You are here

Mobile Home and Caravan Site Licensing

There is a range of national legislation and guidance which affects the management and operation of mobile home parks within the Borough of Broxbourne - The Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960, Caravan Sites Act 1968, Mobile Homes Act 1983 and Mobile Homes Act 2013.

For further information on the applicable legislation please see the Q&A Guidance in the Documents section.

The Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960 prohibits the use of land as a caravan site unless the occupier holds a site licence that has been issued by the Council

The Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014

These Regulations prescribe the procedure for the making, variation and deletion of site rules on residential mobile home parks. Site Licence Holders must follow a set procedure for changes to be made to “site rules” for a permanent residual home site.

A list of sites which have submitted their Site Rules is available in the Documents section.

Mobile Homes Site Licence Fees

The Council's fee and charges can be viewed by clicking on the following link: Mobile Homes Site licence fees. The Council's fees policy for licensing residential park homes and caravan sites is available in the Documents section.

Applying for a Licence

An application must be completed, accompanied by a site plan at 1:2500 scale showing the layout of roads, caravans and facilities.

If you require further information, please use the contact details above.

Exemptions

There are some exceptions:

A caravan sited with the curtilage of a dwelling and its use is incidental to the dwelling. This means it cannot be occupied separately.

A single caravan sited for not more than two consecutive nights for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.

Up to three caravans on a site of not less than five acres for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.

Sites occupied by exempted organisations such as the Caravan Club.

Sites of up to 5 caravans certified by an exempt organisation and which are for members only.

Sites occupied by the local authority. These are usually gypsy sites.

Sites for temporary and special purposes such as caravan rallies, agricultural and forestry workers, building and engineering sites and travelling salesmen.

A site for tents only can be used for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 months.

Licence Conditions

Licences have conditions taken from ‘model standards’ which include:

The type of caravan, e.g. residential, static holiday or touring.

The permitted density (the number per acre/hectare) and the spacing between caravans.

Water supply and drainage; lavatory and washing facilities.

Fire precautions and electrical installations.

Eligibility criteria

The applicant must be entitled to use the land as caravan site and must have planning permission. Licences will not be issued to applicants who have had a site licence revoked within 3 years of the current application.

Are you a Caravan Site occupier?

You should have a licence already but you should check that your name, the site name and address is correct and up to date. Also check that the licence corresponds with your planning permission. If not, contact us using the details above.

If you have recently become a caravan site occupier, licences are transferable to a new occupier but the law requires us to give consent for the transfer. You should complete an application form with a letter requesting for transfer.

Are you a potential site occupier?

You or your legal advisor should check that all the land used for siting caravans has planning permission and that the details correspond with the site licence. If you wish to change the use of the land to a permanent caravan site use you must have planning permission before a licence can be issued.

Copies of the Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960 and other legislation mentioned can be purchased from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/). A copy of the Caravan and Control of Development Act 1960 can be viewed at the council offices where you may also obtain an application forms, a copy of the conditions and further help or advice.